1. In the space below, describe the stasis at the beginning of Split Second. In other words, “Where are we?” “When is it (time, day, and year)?” “Who are the people involved?” “What is the dramatic situation in which the characters find themselves as the play unfolds?”
The play is set in Manhattan, New York City from July 4 to July 6. The people involved are Val Johnson police officer, William H. Willis criminal, Alea Johnson Val's wife, Rusty Johnson Val's Father, Parker the police chief, and Charlie Val's friends. The dramatic situation is that Val kills a unarmed William and then lies about it.
2. What is the intrusion that causes the stasis to be broken and the dramatic action to develop, often at an increasingly rapid pace, to the end of the play? Be careful when citing the intrusion, it may not be where you initially think it is.
The intrusion in this play is when Val talks to Rusty and tells him the whole truth and Rusty tell him to fess up.
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor which is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place?
This is the day Val shot Willis and it is also the 4th of July.
4. State the dramatic questions that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrusion.)
The dramatic question is "Will Val confess to his actions to the police?".
5. Use Val to answer the questions concerning character. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, that is, dramatic actions that are taken. Examine what Val wants (NOTE: In Split Second the wants of Val are in flux and he is being swayed by his father, his wife, his friend, and his colleague at work. His wants seem to change as the play progresses). The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a character. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that the character encounters.
The obstacles in the play are individual vs society, individual vs individual, and individual vs theirself. The wants of Val are; for Willis to stop talking, for him not to get in trouble, for Rusty to stop judging him, for Charlie to tell him it's alright, and finally to not go to jail.
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Split Second.
The most theatrical moment in the play is when Val shoots Willis.
7. Provide at least three examples of images in Split Second. How does the title of the play help us understand the images in the play? (Remember Ball says that, “An image is the use of something we know that tells us something we don’t know.” He goes on to say that images invoke and expand, rather than define and limit.”)
One image in the play is Val's uncovered beer in the park. It shows how he has lost respect for law and how he is too tired to play by those rules. Another image is the fact that the shooting took place on the 4th of July. This juxtaposition shows how even when a country is celebrating its independence how not free some of it marginalized people are. The third image in the play is when Val lies to the police chief for the final time and the life leaves him. This is a strong image that is meant to deter people from lying and shows how can leave a person without anything.
8. Ordinarily, there are many themes in most plays. List the themes in Split Second.
Some of the themes in Split Second are of violence, aggression, impulsivity, family, racism, abuse of power, self-preservation, and tolerance (or lack thereof).
9. Most American plays have something to do with family and/or family relationships. What does family have to do with the dramatic action in Split Second?
Family is the reason the dramatic action builds in the play. It is because of Rusty, Val's Father, that he questions what hes done seriously and the internal conflict inside Val is because of the ideals instilled into him be his cop father. His wife Alea pulls Val in the other direction, telling him to not fess up so that they can have a happy family together.
The play is set in Manhattan, New York City from July 4 to July 6. The people involved are Val Johnson police officer, William H. Willis criminal, Alea Johnson Val's wife, Rusty Johnson Val's Father, Parker the police chief, and Charlie Val's friends. The dramatic situation is that Val kills a unarmed William and then lies about it.
2. What is the intrusion that causes the stasis to be broken and the dramatic action to develop, often at an increasingly rapid pace, to the end of the play? Be careful when citing the intrusion, it may not be where you initially think it is.
The intrusion in this play is when Val talks to Rusty and tells him the whole truth and Rusty tell him to fess up.
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor which is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place?
This is the day Val shot Willis and it is also the 4th of July.
4. State the dramatic questions that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrusion.)
The dramatic question is "Will Val confess to his actions to the police?".
5. Use Val to answer the questions concerning character. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, that is, dramatic actions that are taken. Examine what Val wants (NOTE: In Split Second the wants of Val are in flux and he is being swayed by his father, his wife, his friend, and his colleague at work. His wants seem to change as the play progresses). The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a character. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that the character encounters.
The obstacles in the play are individual vs society, individual vs individual, and individual vs theirself. The wants of Val are; for Willis to stop talking, for him not to get in trouble, for Rusty to stop judging him, for Charlie to tell him it's alright, and finally to not go to jail.
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Split Second.
The most theatrical moment in the play is when Val shoots Willis.
7. Provide at least three examples of images in Split Second. How does the title of the play help us understand the images in the play? (Remember Ball says that, “An image is the use of something we know that tells us something we don’t know.” He goes on to say that images invoke and expand, rather than define and limit.”)
One image in the play is Val's uncovered beer in the park. It shows how he has lost respect for law and how he is too tired to play by those rules. Another image is the fact that the shooting took place on the 4th of July. This juxtaposition shows how even when a country is celebrating its independence how not free some of it marginalized people are. The third image in the play is when Val lies to the police chief for the final time and the life leaves him. This is a strong image that is meant to deter people from lying and shows how can leave a person without anything.
8. Ordinarily, there are many themes in most plays. List the themes in Split Second.
Some of the themes in Split Second are of violence, aggression, impulsivity, family, racism, abuse of power, self-preservation, and tolerance (or lack thereof).
9. Most American plays have something to do with family and/or family relationships. What does family have to do with the dramatic action in Split Second?
Family is the reason the dramatic action builds in the play. It is because of Rusty, Val's Father, that he questions what hes done seriously and the internal conflict inside Val is because of the ideals instilled into him be his cop father. His wife Alea pulls Val in the other direction, telling him to not fess up so that they can have a happy family together.